Multi-compartment envelope



y 0. 1965 w. F. JACOBS 3,195,802

MULTI-COMPARTMENT ENVELOPE Filed Aug. 20. 1962 INVENTOR. WILL/AM 1 7A zaBS A 7- TORNEYS United States Patent 3,195,802 MULTI-COMPARTMENT ENVELOPE William F. Jacobs, Minneapolis, Minn, assiguor to Quality Park Envelope Company, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,983 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) This invention relates to mailing envelopes having two or more compartments. More specifically, it relates to envelopes with a main or conventional compartment plus one or more additional compartments located to the rear thereof. The rearward compartment may be lined with special material for protecting its contents, as for example, reflective automobile license tabs and the like.

In recent years the demand for multi-oompartmented envelopes has increased tremendously. For example, financial and banking institutions are rapidly increasing their use of electronic computers to record and compute deposits and withdrawals of individual depositors. Such usage requires I.B.M. or similar data cards. The cards may require envelopes with special compartments so that an individual card may be mailed with the depositors checks or other instruments but can be removed separately without tampering with the compartment containing the checks.

Another example of the usage of multi-compartmented envelopes resides in the use of mailers for all kinds of small articles which are mailed along with explanatory or associated literature. A specific illustration of this is found in the issuing and mailing of small, automobile license tabs. Many states now issue a full size license plate which will be used by the automobile owner for one or more successive years. In each interim year the state issues small tabs to be placed on the original full size plate. The tabs are often mailed together with the owners registration card. In order that the registration card can be efficiently inserted into a mailing envelope by automatic inserting devices, a two compartmented envelope is necessary; one for the tab and one for the registration card.

In the prior art, compartments of most multi-compartmented envelopes are disposed in linear relationship with each other. That is, the separate compartments are horizontally spaced next to each other side by side. This is usually accomplished by simply dividing the conventional envelope compartment into two or more individual units.

One difficulty of this type of envelope resides in the fact that it is difiicult to insert material into the envelope by automatic inserting devices. Large quantities of mailing matter are often inserted into envelopes by collators or other automatic inserting machines. When compartments are in a side by side linear relationship, the automatic inserter must he modified so that it will load a particular compartment and not damage contents already inserted into the adjacent compartment.

For instance, in mailing the license plate tabs mentioned above, the tabs may be inserted into the envelope manually at the point of manufacture. Subsequently, the vehicle owners registration card may be automatically inserted by a collator. The side by side location of most compartmented envelopes now on the market make it difiicult to insert the registration card without damaging either the card or the compartment in which the tab has been previously placed. Usually, the inserting machine must be modified at great expense to perform this operation.

Another disadvantage of the prior art multi-compartmerited envelopes has been found in mailing materials that react or have a tendency to react with the paper composition of the envelope. An example of this is found Patented July 20, 1965 in mailing the license tabs previously referred to when they are coated with a refiectorized material. Here the reflectorized surface reacts with the envelope unless a special lining is provided. The present envelope provides a lining that is simple to apply during manufacture and prevents any reaction between the refiectorized coating or the like and the envelope paper. In addition to preventing reaction between the contents and the envelope, the lining acts as a translucent covering for the envelope Windows.

Therefore, to obviate the objections to multi-compartmented envelopes now on the market, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-compartmented envelope with one or more auxiliary compartments located to the rear of the main compartment. The main compartment may then be loaded separate from the auxiliary compartments.

Another object of this invention is to provide multicompartmented envelopes with additional and specially lined compartments to the rear of the main compartment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a multi-compartmented envelope that is economical and easy to manufacture from a single die-cut blank, but which provides auxiliary compartments rearward of the main compartment.

Other and further objects of this invention are those inherent and apparent in the article as described, pictured and claimed. In the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

This invention will be described with reference to the figures of the drawings in which corresponding numerals correspond to the same parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the inside surface of the envelope blank before folding;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the envelope with the side panels folded into position; a

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear surface of the envelope in assembled position with the closure flap open;

FIG. 4 is a plan of the front surface of the envelope when sealed closed;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of an exemplary form of license tab for insertion into the rear compartment of the envelope.

In disclosing this invention, the exemplary form of envelope shown and described is for the purpose of mailing both an automobile registration card and small license tabs to be secured to the owners license plates. However, it is to be understood that this type of usage is only for the purpose of illustration and that this invention may be used to mail any combination of materials requiring a two compartment envelope.

In general, the envelope is formed from a die-cut blank designated by the numeral 10. Its major component parts consist of a main or front panel 11; an elongated side panel 12; a truncated side panel 13; a rear panel 14; and a closure flap 15. The rear compartment is formed by the overlapping arrangement of the side and rear panels.

The envelope is assembled by folding the various panels into position in the sequence shown in FIGS. 2-4. This is explained below.

The blank 10 may be formed from any suitable envelope paper which is die-cut in the form of FIG. 1. The front panel 11 will usually contain an addressee window 16 which may be formed in any suitable manner. In the instant invention window 16 has an elongated section 17 which is used to expose the addressees auto registration number. Section 17 may be used to expose similar serial data or be eliminated altogether.

. 3 I V r The rear panel 14 contains a second or rear window 18 in the form of a small rectangle which is used, in conjunction with the rear compartment.

envelope art.

A substantially rectangular lineri1 9fis secured to the inner. surface of panels 11- and 14 by a suitable adhesive orother bonding agent. 7 liner19 is a singleunitary sheet bonded to the inner surface. of front panel 11 and. rear panel 14. However, it

is to be understood that the liner may be composed of two or more independent sheets separated adjacent score Rearwindow 18 may also be formed by any wellknown method in the As shown inthe drawings,

line 21 or divided into two sheets to merely cover respectively windows 16 and 18. irrespective of the size utilized, liner 19 forms a laminated layer integral with the inner surface of panels 11 and 14. If constructed as a unitary sheet, it is folded alongwith the front and rear panels when the envelope is assembled. Thepurpose of liner '19 is two-fold. e 7

First, it provides alining for one side of both the main and rearcompartments. It may thus be used asan insulating. layerto prevent any reaction-between the envelope paper and the'material inserted in the compartment. As an example, inthe instant invention whichis used to mail reflective license tabs, the liner prevents reaction between thereflective material of the license tab'and the envelope As a second purpose, liner 19 forms either a translucent.

and the two side panels in place to complete the assembly of the'body' of the envelope.

Ascan be seen by FIGS. 2 and 5, the overlapping arrangement of the rear panel withv panels 12 and 13 over the non-coated area-26 forms the auxiliary compartment 28 with panels 12 and 13' forming the front surface. thereof. Panel 14'forms the rear of the" auxiliary compartment. Window 18 in panel 14, which is in registry with area 26, forms a space for observing the-interior of compartment 28. Liner v19 formsa'lining for the rear surface of compartment 28 plus a translucent covering for window 18. It also forms a lining for theforward surface of the mainzcompartment 27 and a translucent covering for window .16 together with the elongated section 1 7. By folding-and securing panel- 14 'to the side panels, the

envelope is nowin' the-position shown .in FIG. 3.

In this position both compar'tments27 and 28 are ready for the insertion of mailing material, Using the instant invention for auto registration cards and license tabs as or transparent material for covering the window areas I 16 and18. I In the-instant.;disclosure, .glassine was found most suitable because it would not react with the reflective material ofthe license tabs. Also it has fairly good trans 1 lucentproperties so that material within the envelope can be viewed through window; areas 16 and 18." If it is desired not to use the liner as'an insulating layer, anysuitable translucent ortransparent' sheeting material may j be used. If a cleartransparent linerv is desired, itmay..

be made of well known substancessuch as cellulose acetate. l

For purposes of assembly,blank'10 is scored. hang dottedlines-ZG, 21, 22 and v23 by conventional scoring methods. Panel 13 is then folded onto'the back surface of front panel- 11 along score line '22fand elongated panel anexemplary form, the registration card may be inserted into the main compartment 27 either manually or by automatic inserting devices. .Such insertion willnot interfere with rear compartment 28 or any contents therein because such contents are spaced rearward of main compartment 27 by meansof the separating wall formed by panels 12 and 13. Similarly, insertion intothe rear compartment ofmaterials suclr as the reflectorized license tab 29 of BIG. 6 will not affect or damage the registration card that may have been previously inserted into main compartment 27. V I Referring toF IG. 6, tab-29 has a reflectorized surface 36 over which: is. printed numerical indicia 31. To prevent. the ,reflectorized surface SU-from reacting with the paper of the envelope and therebydestroying its reflective properties, tab'29 is inserted into compartment 28' so that the reflectorized surface'lstl faces and contacts the glassine liner 18. Liner 19 will prevent reaction with the'reflector- J ized. properties of'surface' and also provide'a translu- 12 is folded along score line'20 so-that its distal end over 3 laps panel 13. The forward facing surface of panel's'12 and 13 form the back of a main or conventional compart ment 27; 'The front ;of compartment 27' being formed by front panel 11 as best seen by:referring to 'FIG. 51 a .dotted lines of FIG. 2. The'disp'osition of the adhesive areas 24 and 25 provides a' non-coated channel or compartment area ,26 of substantially rectangular configuration between the two areas of adhesive coating. Area 26 provides the forward inner surface of the auxiliary or rear compartment 28 of the envelope. As can be readily understood, the. size of compartment 28 maybe variedby increasing or decreasing the longitudinal breadth of cent feature so that the indicia 31 may be observed through window 18.

Inasmuch as indicia 31 may be seen by simply observing V the rear surface of the envelope, such indicia may. be

checked to see if it matches and corresponds with similar indicia appearing in the addressee window 16. Using the .auto'registration card and. license tab as exemplary forms, the vnumber appearing on the tab may be compared with a' similar number appearing on the registration of both the license tab and registratiohcard may then be ca'rd. Ifthe tab is inserted first, its number is'observed through window 18 and the corresponding registration card is then inserted into compartment 27. The numbers double checked by observing the corresponding number-s through windows 16 and 18. This procedure would, of

.course, be reversed ifthe registration card were inserted first; 7

After the'insertion of the proper materials into compartments 27 and 28-, -the envelope is closed in conventional adhesive area 24. If area 24 is decreased, the width of compartment 28 will increase; Also, one or more addition al auxiliary compartments may be formed by dividing adhesive area; 24 into a plurality of verticalstrips of ad hesive. This will form an additional auxiliary compart mentbetween each pair of adhesive strips. f

Continuing the assembly, panel 14 is thenfolded to-' gether with. the lower half of liner 19 along score line 21 so that the panel and the integral liner overlaps and sub stantially covers side panels 12 and 13; Adhesive areas 24' and25- secure the inner or forward facing surface of panel 14' to panels 12 and 13. This anchors the rear manner by. foldingclosure'flap 15 along scored line 23. As can be seen in FIG. 3, flap 15 foldsdown a suificient distance over the rear surface of panel 14 to close and seal both-compartments 27and' 28. Flap 15 contains a con- .ventional adhesive 32 to seal it closed. The front surface of the envelope in closedposition isseen in'FIG. 4.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described, arehgiven' by way of example only and the invention is limitedonly by the'terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is: I I I 1. An envelope having a'rectangularfront panel with an addressee windowtherein and score lines along the .linesforfoldingiover the front panel to form a main compartment, therewith; a rear panel having a window adjacent one side thereof, said rear panel disposed along the lower edge of said front panel and integrally joined thereto along a score line for folding over said side panels to form therewith a second compartment rearward of said main compartment; a protective liner bonded substantially coextensive over the inner surface of said front and rear panels for covering the respective windows of said front and rear panels and for forming a protective liner on one surface of the main and second compartments; a rectangular adhesive area and a vertical adhesive area disposed on the outer surfaces of said side panels for securing said rear panel when the same is folded over said side panels, the rectangular and vertical adhesive areas being spaced apart to provide a non-adhesive area in registry with the window of said rear panel for forming the second compartment when said rear panel is folded over said side panels; and a closure panel integrally joined to the top of said front panel along one of the score lines for sealing said envelope closed.

2. An envelope having a rectangular front panel with an addressee window therein and score lines along the perimeter thereof; side panels adjacent each side of the front panel and integrally joined thereto along the score lines for folding over the front panel to form a main compartment therewith; a rear panel having a window adjacent one side thereof, said rear panel disposed along the lower edge of said front panel and integrally joined thereto along a score line for folding over said side panels to form therewith a second compartment rearward of said main compartment; a translucent chemoresistant liner bonded substantially coextensive over the inner surface of said front and rear panels for covering the respective windows of said front and rear panels and forming a chemoresistant liner on one surface of the main and second compartments, whereby articles having chemosensitive properties may be inserted in said compartments; a rectangular adhesive area and a vertical adhesive area disposed on the outer surfaces of said side panels for securing said rear panel when the same is folded over said side panels, the rectangular and vertical adhesive areas being spaced apart to provide a non adhesive area in registry with the window of said rear panel for forming the second compartment when said rear panel is folded over said side panels; and a closure panel integrally joined to the top of said front panel along one of the score lines for sealing said envelope closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,816 4/78 Hatfield 229-71 1,708,574 4/29 Hazen 229-92.3 2,236,659 4/41 White 229-72 2,317,497 4/ 43 Thompson 229-72 2,749,021 6/56 Hiersteiner 229-72 2,860,826 11/58 Cooke 229-72 2,987,402 6/ 61 Dold 206-46 3,116,010 12/63 Stevenson -a 229-72 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE HAVING A RECTANGULAR FRONT PANEL WITH AN ADDRESSEE WINDOW THEREIN AND SCORE LINES ALONG THE PERIMETER THEREOF; SIDE PANELS ADJACENT EACH SIDE OF THE FRONT PANEL AND INTEGRALLY JOINED THERETO ALONG THE SCORE LINES FOR FOLDING OVER THE FRONT PANEL TO FORM A MAIN COMPARTMENT THEREWITH; A REAR PANEL HAVING A WINDOW ADJACENT ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID REAR PANEL DISPOSED ALONG THE LOWEREDGE OF SAID FRONT PANEL AND INTEGRALLY JOINED THERETO ALONG A SCORE LNE FOR FOLDING OVER SAID SIDE PANELS TO FORM THEREWITH A SECOND COMPARTMENT REARWARD OF SAID MAIN COMPARTMENT; A PROTECTIVE LINER BONDED SUBSTANTUALLY COEXTENSIVE OVER THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FRONT AND REAR PANELS FOR COVERING THE RESPECTIVE WINDOWS OF SAID FRONT AND REAR PANELS AND FOR FORMING A PROTECTIVE LINER ON ONE SURFACE OF THE MAIN AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS; A RECTANGULAR ADHESIVE AREA AND A VERTICAL ADHESIVE AREA DISPOSED ON THE OUTER SURFACES OFF SAID SIDE PANELS FOR SECURING SAID REAR PANEL WHEN THE SAME IS FOLDED OVER SAID SIDE PANELS, THE RECTANGULAR AND VERTICAL ADHESIVE AREAS BEING SPACED APART TO PROVIDE A NON-ADHESIVE AREA IN REGISTRY WITH THE WINDOW OF SAID REAR PANEL FOR FORMING THE SECOND COMPARTMENT WHEN SAID REAR PANEL IS FOLDED OVER SAID SIDE PANELS; AND A CLOSURE PANEL INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THE TOP OF SAID FRONT PANEL ALONG ONE OF THE SCORE LINES FOR SEALING SAID ENVELOPE CLOSED. 